Opposition briefing: Millwall and Alex Neil

Match previews

4 hours ago

Crystal Palace continue their FA Cup campaign against Millwall on Saturday, March 1 (12:15 GMT) - so here's everything you need to know about the Lions.

Factfile

Manager: Alex Neil
Position: 12th (EFL Championship)
Nickname: The Lions
Ground: The Den
Founded: 1885 (140 years ago)

What’s the story?

It is difficult to sum up Millwall’s 2024/25 season to date. At times they have looked like serious play-off contenders – as they were two seasons ago, when only a cruel twist on the final day denied them.

A run of just two league defeats between the end of August and the start of December, which included a run of four wins in-a-row, supported a belief that the Lions could once again fight it out for the top six.

But they have also been let down by some rotten runs, including six league games without a win after Christmas.

The appointment of Alex Neil at the turn of the year, after club legend Neil Harris announced he was standing aside, does seem to have provided a lift – although a recent 5-1 loss at relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle sums up their inconsistency.

However, their FA Cup run has provided a source of joy with wins over National League Dagenham & Redbridge and Leeds United teeing up Saturday's visit to Selhurst Park.

They come into this game off the back of a morale-boosting late win over Derby County last week where an injury time goal from Josh Coburn was enough to secure the three points.

The boss

Following the departure of club legend Neil Harris as manager just before the New Year, Millwall turned to former Norwich, Sunderland and Preston manager Alex Neil.

Neil, born in Bellshill, Scotland, played for the likes of Barnsley and Hamilton Academical before stepping into management, which he did with the Scottish side before moving on to have plenty success south of the border coaching in the EFL.

Neil, who won promotion from the Championship as manager of Norwich City in 2015, coming close to keeping the Canaries in the division the following season.

His next stint was a four-year spell in charge at Deepdale. After nearly 200 matches in charge, he departed in 2021, unable to take North End into the top-flight. Sunderland was a shorter, but successful, time in the Scot's career, Neil guiding the Black Cats through the League One play-offs and back to the Championship.

Surprisingly, Neil left the north-east to join Stoke City in August 2022, but left the role after 16 months in charge, with the Potters 20th in the Championship table at the time.

Boot in both camps

Aside from recent Palace recruit Romain Esse, plenty of players have represented both clubs down the years.

Shaun Derry may have played nearly 200 games for the Eagles but he also had a brief spell at Millwall on loan, towards the end of his playing career in 2013.

Jason Puncheon was another modern day Palace legend who enjoyed a short spell on loan at the Den, infamously scoring a hat-trick against the Eagles.

Record against Palace

The last time Palace and Millwall faced off also came in the FA Cup, with the two sides drawn against one another in at the third-round stage, back in January 2022.

Unlike Saturday's meeting, that tie was played at Millwall's New Den stadium. Despite a partisan home crowd erupting after Benik Afobe put the hosts ahead, eventually Premier League class would shine through.

A lively affair would eventually turn into the Michael Olise show, the France winger spinning the game on its head, almost single-handedly, in only his third start for the Eagles. His stunning curling effort levelled the tie with the second-half only a minute old. That goal seemed to change the tide, with Palace enjoying their best spell of an end-to-end cup tie.

The Eagles would make pressure count just before the hour mark, Olise producing a wonderful cross that gave Jean-Philippe Mateta the chance to head home. Amid jubilant scenes in the away end, it would prove to be the winner, as Palace progressed into the fourth round.

That is the only meeting between the two in the past 12 years, since Palace were first promoted to the Premier League. Historically, Millwall have 38 wins in this fixture, while the Eagles have 30. There have been 30 draws.

Did you know?

Millwall were originally founded as Millwall Rovers by workers of JT Morton's factory on the Isle of Dogs in London's East End back in 1885.

It took them another four years before the 'Rovers' was dropped from their name - at which point they were then known as Millwall Athletic, due to their relocation to their then home ground - the Athletic Grounds.

Millwall didn't move to New Cross - and the 'old' Den until 1910.

Match details

Crystal Palace v Millwall
Saturday, 1st March, 12:15 GMT
FA Cup Fifth Round
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

Related News

More News